Tag Archives: 09-25-2013

Four Mullins kids grew up loving the water, boating and life on Anna Maria Island in the 1960s and ’70s.

Pat Mullins never lost his love of the water. But on Jan. 27, he left home on the Braden River in his 16-foot boat and never returned.

In spite of an extensive search by law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard — and many friends who carried on their search for many days after law enforcement called off theirs — Mullins was not found until his body was brought ashore with the tide Feb. 5.

The family later learned the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had rendered the case “inactive.” There were no definitive answers as to what happened after Mullins left home for a day on the water.

He was found bound and tied to an anchor line, and he had been shot with a shotgun. Although the boat was found, there was apparently no evidence and no gun aboard.

The family hopes that by offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person(s) responsible for his death, someone will come forward. Information is needed to piece together the events surrounding his disappearance and death.

To raise money for the reward, the Mullins family will host a fundraiser 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the King Ranch, 4630 Caruso Road, Bradenton.

The public is welcome to enjoy some great food, including pulled pork sandwiches and smoked mullet. There will be a silent auction, 50/50 raffles, live music and activities for children.

Donors can contribute to the fund at the event or send a check for the to “Mullins’ Reward Fund” to Mullins’ Reward Fund, 6611 Proctor Road, Sarasota FL 34241.

For more information on the event, call 941-720-7686. To report information about incidents related to Pat Mullins disappearance, email PatMullinsMemorialFund@gmail.com.

Does your organization rely on you to share its event announcements with The Islander? Then we’d like to hear from you now, as we prepare for the 2013-14 season. Send your 2013-14 events calendar — dates, times, locations and brief descriptions — to calendar@islander.org. Please include a contact name, email address and telephone number. High-resolution photographs are appreciated.

Send calendar announcements to calendar@islander.org. Please include the time, date and location of the event, a brief description and a contact via email and phone. The deadline for submissions is the Wednesday a week before publication. High-resolution photographs welcome.

Don’t forget to plan for pesky afternoon thunderbumpers

In September, we experience afternoon thunderstorms on around Anna Maria Island on a regular basis. You can expect to see at least a 40 percent chance of afternoon showers five days a week.

Granted, these small squalls may last up to an hour although usually the duration is only 20 minutes or so. But these storms can appear suddenly with wind gusts, heavy rain and lightning. If you’ve ever been on the water during these conditions, you know you don’t want to deal with them again.

Even a quick storm can be a pain, so plan accordingly and fish during morning hours. If you’re fishing offshore, keep a watchful eye to the east. Ultimately, after 1 p.m., it’s necessary to keep an eye on what’s developing. That way, if you see something coming, you can make a decision on whether to catch that last keeper fish or make a run for the dock.

Dave Sork at the Anna Maria City Pier says Spanish mackerel are ravaging bait schools and the anglers’ tackle during the morning incoming tides. Pier fishers using small white jigs or Clark spoons are connecting with fish. Expect to find jack crevalle, blue runners and ladyfish in the mix with the macks.

Mangrove snapper are being caught in decent numbers by fishers using live shrimp. Most fish are 10-12 inches, so make sure you have a ruler handy if you plan on taking fish home for dinner. Mangrove snapper need to be at least 10 inches to be a keeper.

Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing good action for light-tackle fishers occurring during the morning incoming tides. Pier fishers are arriving at the pier fully stocked with small jigs and silver spoons in anticipation of limiting out on Spanish mackerel. White speck rigs, crappie jigs or Clark spoons in the size 00 or 01 are the lures of choice. Expect to catch Spanish mackerel in the 12- to 16-inch range along with plenty of jacks, ladyfish and blue runners in the mix. At certain points in the tide, Malfese says fishers are hooking up every cast.

Mangrove snapper are accommodating pier fishers dropping live shrimp or shiners under the pier. Small baits, small hooks and light leaders are the keys to success. Limits are attainable with a little determination.

Finally, the occasional snook and redfish are being reeled up. Most reds are over-slot, but to get in the bull red catch, try dropping a live pinfish under the pier. Half a blue crab might work even better. For the snook, live shiners, pinfish or ladyfish will attract a bite.

Jonny Keyes at Island Discount Tackle is targeting schooling redfish on shallow flats adjacent to mangrove edges. Capt. Mac Gregory has been leading Keyes to the fish during high tide. After the school is located, Keyes is casting an EP rattle shad fly in its midst. On a recent excursion, they managed to land five over-slot fish on the fly rod. Not bad for these parts.

Next Keyes and Gregory migrated out to the nearshore reefs for some action with Spanish mackerel, bonito and blacktip sharks. By flat-lining live shiners behind the boat, the pair hooked macks to 24 inches. Once a few blacktip sharks show up to the party, they begin sight-casting chunks of fresh-cut mack to get a bite. Expect to catch blacktips ranging 4-6 feet.

Capt. Warren Girle is working the flats of Sarasota Bay and along the Intracoastal Waterway with good results on redfish, spotted seatrout and snook. For all three species, live shiners are his bait of choice. To rig, Girle is either using corks to keep the bait out of the grass or free-lining. Redfish both in the slot and over-slot can be expected. The trout are mostly 15-20 inches. As for snook, most are under-slot, but going the sheer numbers of fish, it’s easy to wait for a keeper to bite.

Moving out to nearshore reefs, Girle is catching good numbers of macks and blacktip sharks. To start, he’s free-lining live shiners behind the boat. Fish 15-25 inches are the norm. To target the sharks, he’s casting out fresh-cut chunks of mackerel. Blacktips in the 60-pound range are being caught daily.

Mangrove snapper are being caught at the reefs. Girle says anchoring and chumming will get the snapper in a feeding mood. Once they are biting, Girle drops down either live or fresh-cut shiners to the bottom to hook up. Expect 15-inch snapper to gobble your bait.

Does your organization rely on you to share its event announcements with The Islander? Then we’d like to hear from you now, as we prepare for the 2013-14 season. Send your 2013-14 events calendar — dates, times, locations and brief descriptions — to calendar@islander.org. Please include a contact name, email address and telephone number. High-resolution photographs are appreciated.

Send calendar announcements to calendar@islander.org. Please include the time, date and location of the event, a brief description and a contact via email and phone. The deadline for submissions is the Wednesday a week before publication. High-resolution photographs welcome.

Center soccer spirit, season kick off, basketball too

The youth soccer league at the Anna Maria Island Community Center got started Sept. 21 with three games in two age divisions.

The Feast opened up the action in the 11-13 age division in grand style, rolling past a short-handed LPAC squad by an 11-0 margin behind six goals from Michael Latimer and three goals from Joe Rogers. Catherine Calhoun added two goals to complete the Feast’s victory.

The second 11-13 game of the evening saw Waterfront Restaurant edge Jen Crady Massage 5-4 behind two goals each from Alex Rodriguez and Silas Banyas, while Hannah Mooney added one goal in the victory.

Wash Family Construction got off to a good start in the 14-17 age division with a 3-0 victory over Jessie’s Island Store. Joey Carder scored two goals and Connor Field added one to carry WFC.

Adult coed soccer also got a kick-start this week at the center with four games on Sept. 19.

The first game took Sato Real Estate to a 7-1 victory over Wash Family Construction behind two goals each from Chris Circharo and Stephen Perry, who also added two assists. Matt Plummer, Chrissy Rice and Josh Rio each added single goals in the victory.

Chris Yavalar notched the lone goal for WFC in the loss.

FL Discount Signs edged Island Gourmet 5-4 in the second game of the evening — somewhat of a family affair. Brent Moss led the way with four goals, while Greg Moss added one goal and Ryan Moss had an assist. Goalie David Moss helped preserve the slim lead with 14 saves in the victory.

Adam Bujarski led Island Gourmet with two goals and an assist while Zach Gilliland and Tim Tedesco each scored one in the loss.

Agnelli Pool & Spa steamrolled past Island Pest Control by a 9-4 margin in the third game of the evening. Joey Clasulio and Damir Glavan scored four goals each and Omar Polar added two to lead the Agnelli offense. Frank Agnelli added seven saves in goal.

Teddy Louloudes and Steve Oelke scored two goals each for Island Pest Control in the loss.

The adult basketball at the center got started Sept. 17 with three games and, if the first week of action carries over to the rest of the season, it’s going to be a competitive league.

All three games were decided by five points or less, starting with Bowes Imaging Center defeating the Sun 64-60. Matt Ray led the way with 21 points, while Antwaun Jackson contributed 17 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Jason Mickan added 14 points and Teagan Purtil scored 11 to round out the action.

Andrew Turmin led the Sun with 23 points, while Chad Woods scored 13 and Eric Gledhill put 12 points and nine rebounds into the loss.

Southern Greens recorded a 58-53 victory over Waterfront Restaurant in the second Sept. 17 game. Brandon Hartwig scored 22 points to lead Southern Greens, which also received nine points apiece from Joe Combs and Brittany Hartwig.

Brandon Kern led Waterfront with 17 points, while Matt Dwyer scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss.

Beach to Bay Construction edged Gator Man Pools 53-50 in the final game of the night behind 17 points and 12 rebounds from Sean Hubbard. Jordan Demers added 14 points and eight rebounds and Jon Moss scored 12 points to round out the scoring in the victory.

Horseshoe action Sept. 18 at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits saw a short delay for a couple of noteworthy events. The Anna Maria horseshoe pitchers gathered a $360 donation for the Manatee County Food Bank. The donation and matching funds from Mosaic Foundation will add more than 4,000 pounds of food to the empty pantry.

Another event was the graduation of Bob Heiger from Sam’s Learning Center, a program designed to help horseshoe pitchers improve their skills.

Heiger made the grade with three back-to-back ringers in consecutive games. As a result, he was named the 2013 most-improved horseshoe player. He also was awarded a trophy.

After the two ceremonies, regular horseshoe action commenced with Hank Huyghe and Jerry Disbrow earning the day’s outright championship with the only 3-0 pool-play record.

Two teams emerged from pool play during Sept. 21 horseshoe action. The team of Huyghe and Tim Sofran easily defeated Jerry Disbrow and Sam Samuels 23-12 to earn bragging rights for the day.

Play gets underway at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.

There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.

Key Royale golf news

A rainy week limited the golf action at Key Royale Club to three events. The women played a nine-hole, individual-low-net match in addition to a side game, “Tee to Green,” where only strokes to get to the green were counted.

Sue Wheeler was the low-net winner with a 1-under-par 31, while Liz Lang was one shot back in second place. Fran Barford, Kris Landkammer, Christina Mason and Helen Pollock tied for third at 33.

Wheeler, Lang and Pollock tied at 28 strokes for first in the “Tee to Green” game.

The men played a nine-hole team scramble Sept. 19 that saw Jon Holcomb, Fred Miller, Mike Gille and Bob Lang take first place with a 6-under-par 26.

On Sept. 20, the members played a nine-hole best-ball-of-threesome match. The team of Joyce Brown, Larry Fowler and Bob Dickinson combined on a 7-under-par 25 to take first place by three strokes. Terry Westby, Jim Dunne and Earl Huntzinger, who chipped in on the sixth hole, were alone in second place with a 3-under-par 28.

• Sept. 9, 100 block of Crescent Drive, domestic battery. A man and woman were arguing and it turned physical when the man allegedly pushed the woman. According to the report, the woman grabbed a steak knife to defend herself and the man cut his finger during the struggle.

Anna Maria is policed by the MCSO.

Bradenton Beach

• Sept. 14, 100 block of Midge Court, disorderly intoxication. A Bradenton Beach police officer responded to several calls about a man walking through a neighborhood yelling at people. The officer made contact with a man on Bridge Street and learned he was staying on a boat anchored in Sarasota Bay. The officer instructed the man to return to his boat for the night. About 15 minutes later, the officer received a call about a man yelling at people on Midge Court and knocking on doors of residences. The officer made contact with the same 19-year-old Bradenton man, who was sitting inside a vehicle that did not belong to him. He was arrested for disorderly intoxication.

Bradenton Beach is policed by the BBPD.

Cortez

• Sept. 12, 4500 block of 123rd Street Court West, battery, petit theft. A complainant reported he became involved in a fight with a man he knows when the man ran at him in an aggressive manner. The complainant said the two don’t like each other and when the suspect ran toward him saying he wanted to fight, he punched the suspect. The two men scuffled and, at some point, the complainant’s pocketknife fell out of his pocket. When the fight ended, the suspect allegedly took the knife and fled.

• Sept. 15, 4400 block of 123rd Street Court West, petit theft. A man reported he and his wife rode their bicycles to the location to fish. When they returned to their bikes, one was stolen. The complainant said his cellphone was strapped onto the bike.

• Sept. 14, 10104 Cortez Road W., Cortez Clam Factory. Two filters for a smoke eater machine valued at $400 and left in the parking lot were stolen.

Cortez is policed by the MCSO

Holmes Beach

•Sept. 17, 400 Manatee Ave. W., violation of probation. A 22-year-old Plant City woman was arrested for violation of probation after being stopped by police for a traffic violation, who discovered the woman was on probation for possession of marijuana. Her probation officer informed the officer to arrest her because she did not seek permission to leave her home county.

• Sept. 9, 300 block of 72nd Street, criminal mischief. A complainant reported she parked her vehicle overnight. When she returned to the vehicle in the morning, she observed a dent on the driver’s side.

• Sept. 10, 3200 block of East Bay Drive, fraud. A woman reported that she received a call from a man asking if he could ship her a package to be shipped overseas because the store he was shopping from would not make the shipment. The woman agreed, using credit card information provided by the suspect. After receiving and shipping a variety of packages, the woman was notified the credit card information was from a stolen card.

• Sept. 12, 300 block of 63rd Street, disturbance. A man and woman were arguing about their relationship status. The man was not there when police arrived. The woman said the argument was not physical, but her boyfriend had kicked the front door. She had a small cut on her nose, but told police she cut it while taking her friend’s belongings outdoors.

• Sept. 13, 600 block of Key Royale Drive, burglary. A couple left their residence for six weeks and, on return, found the deadbolt on the front door broken and two handguns and fishing poles valued at $2,200 missing.

Holmes Beach is policed by the HBPD.

Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach police departments and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Charmian Miller, front left, of Ellenton, exchanges her “AMI Day Tripper” stickers Sept. 22 with Wayne “Wolverine” Collins of Bradenton — a member of the nonprofit Anna Maria Island Privateers, on Palma Sola Causeway. Miller and Debbie Pinkley, right of Collins, became island residents and friends in the late-1980s. The sticker came about when they joked about the recent day-tripper controversy. Miller and Pinkley plan to continue selling $3 day-tripper stickers Sept. 29 at Duffy’s Tavern in Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE HIVE: GIFTS & Arts at Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach. Local hand-made unique jewelry including our very popular Mermaids Range, Tibetan jewelry and goods, plus Pandora-style charms and various gift items from around the world. 941-730-1745.

ATTENTION VETERANS AND active military from Anna Maria Island. Crosspointe Fellowship wants to hear from you in order to welcome you to a Nov. 16 patriotic Thanksgiving event. Call the Rev. Ed Moss at 941-778-0719 to provide your contact information.

WANTED: WORKOUT DVDs and retired but working XBox, Wii units with games for Ministry of Presence for kids and teens in Haiti. Deliver to The Islander, 5604B Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

POWER NOLES CUSTOM 11.5-foot fiberglass tunnel hull with bass seats. Very stable! Great for fishing-stand on the side without tipping, go in really shallow waters. Very fun boat for anyone who wants to get on the water! 2001 25-hp Mercury 2-stroke, plus a trolling motor with battery. Must see! $500 obo. Call Toni, 941-928-8735.

KIDS FOR HIRE

LOCAL ISLAND STUDENT babysitter available. CPR and first aid-certified, early childhood development major. Emily, 941-567-9276.